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Stalking Aidan
In a past life Irish-born Aidan was the minder to notorious gang boss Frankie Lamond. Aidan was thrown into prison when he shot Lamond’s intended assassin in a disastrous shooting that not only left Lamond with a fatal spinal injury but also his girlfriend, and Aidan’s mistress, gunned down. Now fresh out of prison after serving eight years for his involvement in the shooting, Aidan plans to get his life back on track; his priorities lay with making amends with his family and attempting to be reunited with his nine-year-old son. Unbeknown to Aidan, sinister forces have something altogether different in mind.
As he begins to settle back into life outside of prison, Aidan becomes certain he’s being followed and he convinces himself that his fate lies in the hands of someone who knows all about his past life. Events begin to spiral out of control; his flat is robbed and then a bomb goes off in his car seriously harming Terry, the son of Verdi, a tenacious woman Aidan has begun a sordid affair with. His thoughts are confirmed - someone out there is after one thing; revenge. He is forced to return to gangland, the one part of his life he thought he had turned his back on. Aidan is offered the security of a safe house and a minder, but when his minder disappears his life is thrust back into the gangster underworld and his family are, against his wishes, dragged in amongst the drama. Events take a turn for the worse and a murder enquiry ensues. If Aidan learnt one thing from his time in gangland, it’s to handle things himself, but for a man living in fear of returning to prison, it’s a dangerous road to take. But one that is necessary.
Set in modern day London, Stalking Aidan is the fast-paced gangster novel from J.M. Shorney. The book explores traditional themes of the gangster genre; violence, sex, revenge, family loyalties and psychological warfare. The story is told from the point of view of the bad guys as opposed to the good guys, and the story follows the life of Aidan, a man haunted by his past and living with guilt. The idea that mind-games can be just as damaging as physical violence is a powerful theme.
As he begins to settle back into life outside of prison, Aidan becomes certain he’s being followed and he convinces himself that his fate lies in the hands of someone who knows all about his past life. Events begin to spiral out of control; his flat is robbed and then a bomb goes off in his car seriously harming Terry, the son of Verdi, a tenacious woman Aidan has begun a sordid affair with. His thoughts are confirmed - someone out there is after one thing; revenge. He is forced to return to gangland, the one part of his life he thought he had turned his back on. Aidan is offered the security of a safe house and a minder, but when his minder disappears his life is thrust back into the gangster underworld and his family are, against his wishes, dragged in amongst the drama. Events take a turn for the worse and a murder enquiry ensues. If Aidan learnt one thing from his time in gangland, it’s to handle things himself, but for a man living in fear of returning to prison, it’s a dangerous road to take. But one that is necessary.
Set in modern day London, Stalking Aidan is the fast-paced gangster novel from J.M. Shorney. The book explores traditional themes of the gangster genre; violence, sex, revenge, family loyalties and psychological warfare. The story is told from the point of view of the bad guys as opposed to the good guys, and the story follows the life of Aidan, a man haunted by his past and living with guilt. The idea that mind-games can be just as damaging as physical violence is a powerful theme.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2013
57 people want to read
About the author
J.M Shorney
2 books2 followersJ.M. Shorney lives in Thatcham in Berkshire working part-time in a care home for the elderly with dementia. Now semi-retired she has the time to fulfill her life long ambition to write. Although not Irish herself, she has an infatuation with the Irish culture, which provided the basis for Stalking Aidan and the two further books in the series Borrowed Time and The Irish Connection. Shorney has a passion for country music, in particular Irish country music, and she also collects old horror movies, westerns and gangster films.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 4, 2014
The strength of STALKING AIDAN can be found in its voices, in the myriad of colorful characters speaking the kind of great lines that attract A-list actors to screenplays. These are characters who are mad to talk, mad to fill the silence with their voices, and through it all there is the voice of Aidan, our first-person narrator, hardened and at times detached, like a gumshoe from a Dashell Hammett novel. But Aidan is not a gumshoe. He is an ex-con, having served a sentence for killing his former boss's would-be assassin, now out of the clink and trying to get on with things. Aidan's life seems to be divided into two halves, the world before prison when he raked in two-grand a week as hired muscle and sported expensive Armani suits, and the world after prison where he just wants to make a living and be left alone. Into Aidan's world, like a buzzing fly caught in the ointment, comes a leather-clad motorcyclist, seeming to watch Aidan's every move and thus giving the novel its title. Events begin to escalate, and Aidan's friends and family are caught up in the line of fire. Reluctantly, Aidan is forced to come out of retirement, to return to his violent ways in an effort to balance the scales.
I enjoyed STALKING AIDAN because it is reminiscent of a number of British gangster films, and it even serves up a popular motif of the genre, that of a man with a past forced to return to his violent ways (think Mitchel in LONDON BOULEVARD or Gorodish in DIVA). Of course I am talking about film here, and Stalking Aidan is a novel. Still, the influence of the gangster films cannot be understated. Besides being rife with great dialogue, STALKING AIDAN is also highly cinematic, structured with that kind of slow-burning energy that permeates the best gangland films. The writing is visual, and as Aidan guides us through this world, pointing out the various details of his world, I felt like I was in a ride-along with him en route to a hit. Yeah, I could see Colin Farrell as Aidan ... unless the author has better ideas!
I enjoyed STALKING AIDAN because it is reminiscent of a number of British gangster films, and it even serves up a popular motif of the genre, that of a man with a past forced to return to his violent ways (think Mitchel in LONDON BOULEVARD or Gorodish in DIVA). Of course I am talking about film here, and Stalking Aidan is a novel. Still, the influence of the gangster films cannot be understated. Besides being rife with great dialogue, STALKING AIDAN is also highly cinematic, structured with that kind of slow-burning energy that permeates the best gangland films. The writing is visual, and as Aidan guides us through this world, pointing out the various details of his world, I felt like I was in a ride-along with him en route to a hit. Yeah, I could see Colin Farrell as Aidan ... unless the author has better ideas!
December 6, 2014
Sentenced to 8 years in prison for murdering Brain Fitzwalters, his former employer's would be assassin.He is now out and making an effort to go on with his life. It seems though Aidan's life has been split into two. The first half of his life before he landed in prison when he worked as hired muscle, brought in two grand a week, wore the best Armani suits and that very same job that landed him in prison. The second half, his release, his world after prison, trying to make a living working at his brothers landscaping business. Just wanting to be left alone to live his life and be with his family.
Aidan spent most of his twenties in prison, the only thing that kept him sane was the prospect of getting to see his son again and his sister who he is really close to. The woman he truly loved would not be there though for she betrayed him.
Many of times Aidan would debate going back to his old lifestyle, not used to making so little money even though he enjoyed working for his brother. He missed the luxury, the expensive suits and whatever he wanted and when he wanted it. Unfortunately whether he wanted to or not Aidan's hand would be forced when he finds out that a contract on his life has been placed most likely by Brains father and brother for vigilante justice. In order to protect his family had to stay low and determine a course of action that would also "solve the problem" with out him also having to go back to prison. That means not getting caught at all, with anything, no weapon or committing the crime. But how? Where? What course of action?
The author gives you the feeling that you are on the way with Aidan to a mob hit. Descriptive details, in depth characters that are full of life. Anyone who is a fan of any crime, mystery and suspense genres this is a novel to be the next take up that empty space your last book may have left behind. You will be fully engrossed to the end.
September 15, 2014
REVIEW
I loved the different characters. It was like a play and the characters were actors speaking their perfect lines.
With all the characters wanting to talk so bad, all you hear is the voice of Aidan, narrated first person. Sometimes the voice is not on track, sometimes it is harsh.Aidan is an ex-con, he had killed his former employer's would be assassin. He is now out and making an effort to go on with his life. He has two lives, one before prison. He had worked as hired muscle, brought in two grand a week, wore the best Armani suits. Then there is the world after prison. He's just trying to make a living and all he wants is to be left alone. Here comes a motorcyclist, wearing leather and most of all tracking every move that Aidan makes. Thus we have STALKING AIDAN. Unfortunately, Aidan has to go back to his evil ways since his friends and family have been caught in the middle. The author gives you the feeling that you are on the way with Aidan to a mob hit. The author wrote a great gangster-mob story, easy to read with the feeling you were in one of those gangster cars with Aidan carrying his gun and speeding towards what may be death.
I was given a complimentary copy of STALKING AIDAN from the author JM Shorney and Authoramp for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
I loved the different characters. It was like a play and the characters were actors speaking their perfect lines.
With all the characters wanting to talk so bad, all you hear is the voice of Aidan, narrated first person. Sometimes the voice is not on track, sometimes it is harsh.Aidan is an ex-con, he had killed his former employer's would be assassin. He is now out and making an effort to go on with his life. He has two lives, one before prison. He had worked as hired muscle, brought in two grand a week, wore the best Armani suits. Then there is the world after prison. He's just trying to make a living and all he wants is to be left alone. Here comes a motorcyclist, wearing leather and most of all tracking every move that Aidan makes. Thus we have STALKING AIDAN. Unfortunately, Aidan has to go back to his evil ways since his friends and family have been caught in the middle. The author gives you the feeling that you are on the way with Aidan to a mob hit. The author wrote a great gangster-mob story, easy to read with the feeling you were in one of those gangster cars with Aidan carrying his gun and speeding towards what may be death.
I was given a complimentary copy of STALKING AIDAN from the author JM Shorney and Authoramp for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
July 10, 2015
J M Shorney at her very best in this tense thriller. The author has an
extraordinary understanding of gangland culture. The violence, retribution,
bloodshed and the dialogue used in the underworld. For Aidan McRaney, the
protagonist, there is never a dull moment. While his enemies plot to kill him,
he is happily climbing into bed with the various women who crop up in his life.
A great read and highly recommended.
extraordinary understanding of gangland culture. The violence, retribution,
bloodshed and the dialogue used in the underworld. For Aidan McRaney, the
protagonist, there is never a dull moment. While his enemies plot to kill him,
he is happily climbing into bed with the various women who crop up in his life.
A great read and highly recommended.
June 17, 2014
this was a fantastic read, couldn't put it down! Aidan McRaney is a bad boy you can't help but love!
An ex gangster/ murderer, newly released from prison and out to make a fresh start. But will his past allow him to?
I won't say much about the plot because of spoilers but I will say this...Read it! You won't regret it! :-)
An ex gangster/ murderer, newly released from prison and out to make a fresh start. But will his past allow him to?
I won't say much about the plot because of spoilers but I will say this...Read it! You won't regret it! :-)
October 17, 2013
The author is clearly a fan of British gangster films, as am I. This is the first 'book' I've read that fits that filmic mould, but it works surprisingly well! Loved Snatch and Lock Stock? Try Stalking Aidan!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews